Sunday, September 2, 2018

SPLENDOR IN THE HIGH LINE PARK

Choose To Care's(CTC) invitation to the Nutritionists and Friends In Action {NAFIA} team read:

The NAFIA Summer Outing
8-31-18
Let's meet for a stroll to the High Line
Bring your thoughts
Enjoy words of Inspirations, poetry and music
Spend some fun time with nature
&
Food taste oh so good in the open air

The threatening rain did not alter our plans. We did not even have an alternate date. Grit and guts is how I describe our attitude. So we met and began our stroll and there were a lot of nip and tuck on properties, along the way, passageways were blocked,we took a few detours but we made our way to our destination.

We joined others who were taking in the sights, walking aimlessly. Our group stopped to look at the flora and marvel at nature's beautiful house, all manner of plants taking position along the path. We came upon a tree loaded with fruit and someone in our group wondered out loud if this was really the anonna fruit also known as custard apple because of flesh that looks like custard. There were buildings rising from the streets on both sides of the park, beckoning to us to look at their unique structures; some were getting face lifts, while others had occupants, sometimes visible on their terraces. We let out sighs and let our imagination run wild, knowing that owning one of these buildings was out of our reach, but let me take that back, all things are possible.

The growling stomachs and bags that were weighing us down, let us knew that it was time to scope out a spot to share our meal. We staked our claim on what we thought was the ideal spot; benches to rest our tired feet, a place to lay our spread and under a few trees that offered a tiny bit of protection from the raindrops that had become a little more than a drizzle.

We ate, listened to music and heard poems that eloquently described life's pathway. Mother Teresa persuaded us to "Do It Anyway" the "it" referring to acts of kindness, practicing forgiveness, building, doing good, finding happiness, serenity, regardless of the backlash from naysayers.
"When Giving Is All We have" by Alberto Rios, an American Poet, resonates what we at CTC and NAFIA are about. He tells the story of giving, its many faces, he goes on to say, "You gave me what you did not have and I gave you what I had to give - together, we made something greater from the difference." The Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoole tells the story of the old man who had passed on a bridge that posed danger but he stopped to build a safer path for the youth whose feet must pass this way. Aboud Ben Ahem by Leigh Hunt, placed his name on the angel's list as one who loves his fellow men.

Our discussions after such inspiring words led to how else we can walk the good talk. We know that we are something bigger than just us and promised to continue to use our platforms, health, nutrition and fitness and saving the earth, to help the youth in need. We are thankful for CTC and NAFIA hard work and bright ideas.

The splendor in the High Line Park had to end with a photo session and selfies, the help of a stranger snapped us together. Lo and behold as we climbed on the benches for more snapshots, there was an artistic photo of Mother Theresa, staring back at us. I stared back, bewildered. "Was there a message in that photo?" I whispered. I had reset my button out here with nature, feeling relaxed and the image of Mother Teresa will certainly help me to tackle the plans floating in my mind as I took the long trek home. I am sure the artist has a story why Mother Teresa's painting was placed there in the first place but I will call this my miracle on the High Line, and this sighting has found its way from my eyes to my heart. "Yes, I will give it my best shot" and "I Will Do It Anyway" accepting Mother Teresa's invitation.
STAY TRUE
psw

3 comments:

Merlyn H
said...

The experience was inspirational and fun being in nature. We had a wonderful time being there. I was touched especially by Mother Teresa's poem and I enjoyed the moments we had together. Being together reminded me that it is important to make time for things and people that matter. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this experience.